# 4th Republican presidential candidates debate tonight 11/10/15 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 10, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201 "2015-11-10T16:38:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/61 "2015-11-11T13:20:48Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > What’s the opposite of a loaded question? > A gift question? > > What ever it is, this has to be a prime example. > > [GOP Debate Moderator: How Will You Compete With ‘Free Stuff’ From Dems?](http://www.google.co.jp/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CB8QtwIwAWoVChMI2-aT5IeIyQIVBNSmCh118Afb&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuvCFoa-U3ZE&usg=AFQjCNHqVchERxhvqWzDKXvqWJWppN6Nag) > > I heard that the GOP candidates had whined about aggressive questioning in the previous debate. So now the moderators are giving them pandering “questions” like this? > That’s not a softball, that’s a tee-ball, with a hand job from the team mascot thrown in! > > Haven’t seen much else of the debate. > Was there much of this kind of thing going on? To be fair every Republican Primary cycle needs questions such as this. The question was perhaps skewed sympathetically but it’s a genuine conundrum for prospective Republican candidates. It is a question that does need answered satifactorily before your average Republican primary voter can make up his or her mind on who will be best Republican candidate. Behind the “softball” question was an actual substantive issue. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/62 "2015-11-11T14:01:39Z")
I think Rand Paul’s campaign is over since he stated man “might” have something to do with climate change, and the earth is billions of years old. I mean, are those ideas really going to resonate with conservative voters? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/63 "2015-11-11T14:30:15Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > Fiorina hitting the zero-based budgeting theme hard tonight. Does she realize how few people have any idea what that means? If they don’t understand it, they can’t hate it! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/64 "2015-11-11T14:43:35Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I don’t know what to watch tonight. The Republican debate or The Muppets. > One show has a bunch of stuffed characters whose mouths move and say ridiculous things despite having stuffing for brains. The other show has Miss Piggy. Yes, but which show will teach you [how to](https://youtu.be/vC0uvUuXVh8?t=34) [count](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_ZLEsuTKxA)? > [@JohnT](#): > > Carly Fiorina’s Bachelor’s degree is in Philosophy. Philosophy, eh? Silly me, thinking her only attribute was selling off assets and broom-sticking jobs out of the country. Well, [two](https://youtu.be/YPhCDLtr9h0?t=1) can play at that game… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/65 "2015-11-11T15:00:55Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > To be fair every Republican Primary cycle needs questions such as this. The question was perhaps skewed sympathetically but it’s a genuine conundrum for prospective Republican candidates. It is a question that does need answered satifactorily before your average Republican primary voter can make up his or her mind on who will be best Republican candidate. Behind the “softball” question was an actual substantive issue. What “substantive issue” would that be? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/66 "2015-11-11T15:31:13Z")
I was amused that any time Hillary’s name came up they acted like they were up against Satan himself and if she got elected the end of days would soon follow. Same BS I heard back in 2008 and 2012. If you want some entertaining reading google the phrase “things that will happen if Obama gets elected” and have yourself a laugh. Rush Limbaugh’s “The economy WILL collapse if he’s re-elected” is a good one. If the end of days includes a recovered stock market, a recovered housing market, and 5% unemployment, please sign me up for more. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/67 "2015-11-11T15:42:52Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > Fiorina hitting the zero-based budgeting theme hard tonight. Does she realize how few people have any idea what that means? On the contrary, I imagine she’s counting on how few people have any idea what it means. Those who know what it means realize it doesn’t work at federal government scale. They aren’t her audience for this. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/68 "2015-11-11T15:48:50Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I was amused that any time Hillary’s name came up they acted like they were up against Satan himself and if she got elected the end of days would soon follow. Maybe the next ‘debate’ can take the form of a Purim party, but substituting ‘Hillary’ for ‘Haman.’ Or maybe they could do a Two-[del]Minute[/del] Hour\* Hate, only with Hillary’s face on the screen instead of Emmanuel Goldstein’s. \*Can’t do just two minutes - gotta fill time, two hours worth of time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/69 "2015-11-11T15:51:24Z")
Good debate, good moderators. Just because the questions didn’t include name calling doesn’t mean they weren’t substantive. They covered a pretty broad range of topics and let each candidate actually tell you his or her ideas. Whether you agree or disagree or think they articulated them well, at least you got to hear their plans. The only knock on the moderators is that I immediately caught Cruz’s gaffe when he said commerce twice and I was surprised they didn’t catch it or call him out on it. Jeb brought a little more energy, but it’s probably too little too late. Most of the commentary I heard on Trump was he was better behaved, but I still think he was an ass. Especially his comeback to Kasich, “I’ve built a company worth billions, I don’t have to hear from you.” Totally tone deaf. And on top of his opening comment that wages are too high. This will not endear Trump to the blue collar voters that the GOP must pick up to win. Rubio was decent. Paul was decent. Fiorina was good. I like Kasich less and less the more I hear from him. Carson does Ok for himself while the field is big, but if it was a one on one debate with a professional politician I think he’d find himself in over his head. As for philosopher pay, I notice the payscale website is showing us salaries of “presidents” and “executive directors” and even “network engineers” with philosophy degrees. Somehow, I don’t think that’s what Marco meant by “philosophers.” But to get to the crux of the matter, those pointing to this payscale data would encourage students to seek a philosophy degree over a vocational education? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/70 "2015-11-11T15:55:50Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Cruz’s missing department was repeated but they noted he didn’t “oops” it like Our Last Governor. Expectations for this year’s batch of candidates have been dramatically lowered. Four years ago, not being able to count to three disqualifies you. This year, not being able to count to five lands you a solid third place. Did we ever find out what Cruz’s fifth department would be? If I’m going to be voting based on eviscerating our current regulatory infrastructure, I’d like to be able to make a reasoned choice between “these five departments” and Christie’s “all of them”. Seriously, I know he’s at the kid’s table and has to knock over some glasses and throw the turkey on the floor to get some attention, but has there ever been a more loony proposal that a [120 day holiday for all Federal regulations](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/259757-christie-calls-for-four-month-freeze-on-regulations)? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/71 "2015-11-11T15:55:54Z")
I was shocked (although I shouldn’t have been) about how hawkish and neoconservative most of them were. \* More\* troops in Germany? We should have zero troops in Germany ffs. Put nuclear missiles in Poland solely in an effort to piss off Putin? That makes a lot of sense and won’t cost billions of dollars, so sign me up! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/72 "2015-11-11T15:58:23Z")
[Transcript.](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/us/politics/transcript-republican-presidential-debate.html?_r=0) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/73 "2015-11-11T16:01:18Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > The only knock on the moderators is that I immediately caught Cruz’s gaffe when he said commerce twice and I was surprised they didn’t catch it or call him out on it. No one was really listening. It’s all “cut government blah blah blah.” The specifics don’t mater, because no one actually believes five government agencies are going to be eliminated, so who cares which ones he names. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/74 "2015-11-11T16:17:43Z")
What a surreal thing to experience in person. Just being in that theater surrounded by such hardcore Republicans was unsettling. Scott Walker was sitting near me and I grabbed a selfie w/ him. Paul Ryan was there also but I didn’t try and talk to him (he was swarmed during every break in the debate). Most fascinating thing was seeing how the candidates interacted/behaved during breaks or when the cameras were on someone else. Jeb kept running over to chat up Trump during the breaks, and Carly/Cruz/Rand had a little huddle going at one point. Also, when Carly was talking and saying something about how she’s the only person on stage that is an innovator (or something) alllllll of the other dudes on stage started making half-grinning side-glances w/ each other as if to say “can you believe this broad?” ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/75 "2015-11-11T16:18:47Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Did we ever find out what Cruz’s fifth department would be? I’m sure it’s education. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/76 "2015-11-11T17:13:22Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I’m sure it’s education. Well, I’m glad you did your homework (even if he didn’t). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/77 "2015-11-11T17:22:37Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > To be fair every Republican Primary cycle needs questions such as this. The question was perhaps skewed sympathetically but it’s a genuine conundrum for prospective Republican candidates. It is a question that does need answered satifactorily before your average Republican primary voter can make up his or her mind on who will be best Republican candidate. Behind the “softball” question was an actual substantive issue. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What “substantive issue” would that be? Are they going to cut old, white people’s Social Security and Medicare, or young black people’s food stamps and Medicaid? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/78 "2015-11-11T17:49:10Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > What’s the opposite of a loaded question? > A gift question? > > What ever it is, this has to be a prime example. > > [GOP Debate Moderator: How Will You Compete With ‘Free Stuff’ From Dems?](http://www.google.co.jp/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CB8QtwIwAWoVChMI2-aT5IeIyQIVBNSmCh118Afb&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuvCFoa-U3ZE&usg=AFQjCNHqVchERxhvqWzDKXvqWJWppN6Nag) > > I heard that the GOP candidates had whined about aggressive questioning in the previous debate. So now the moderators are giving them pandering “questions” like this? > That’s not a softball, that’s a tee-ball, with a hand job from the team mascot thrown in! > > Haven’t seen much else of the debate. > Was there much of this kind of thing going on? Look, what do you expect, when Fox Business and WSJ are partnering to moderate a Republican candidates debate? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/79 "2015-11-11T18:02:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Carly Fiorina’s Bachelor’s degree is in Philosophy. Technically, so is Ben Carson’s PHD and Rand Paul’s PHD, and anyone else on the stage with a PHD. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201/80 "2015-11-11T18:32:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Technically, so is Ben Carson’s PHD and Rand Paul’s PHD, and anyone else on the stage with a PHD. Nitpick: Carson doesn’t have a PhD; he has an MD. According to the [Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carson#Early_life_and_education) on him: “In 1973 Carson graduated from Yale University, where he majored in psychology. He received his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1977.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4th-republican-presidential-candidates-debate-tonight-11-10-15/737201.md?page=5)